As major general of militia Jackson had for ten years awaited
just such a chance for action. In 1811 he wrote fervently to Harrison
offering to come to his assistance in the Wabash expedition with five
hundred West Tennesseeans, but his services were not needed. At the
close of the year he induced the Governor of his State, William
Blount, to inform the War Department that he could have twenty-five
hundred men "before Quebec within ninety days" if desired. Again he
was refused. But now his opportunity had come. Billy Phillips was
hardly on his way to Natchez before Jackson, Blount, and Benton were
addressing a mass meeting called to "ratify" the declaration of war,
and on the following day a courier started for Washington with a
letter from Jackson tendering the services of twenty-five hundred
Tennesseeans and assuring the President, with better patriotism than
syntax, that wherever it might please him to find a place of duty for
these men he could depend upon them to stay "till they or the last
armed foe expires."
After some delay the offer was accepted.
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